NAME
HTML::FormFu::Model::DBIC - Integrate HTML::FormFu with DBIx::Class
SYNOPSIS
Example of typical use in a Catalyst controller:
sub edit : Chained {
my ( $self, $c ) = @_;
my $form = $c->stash->{form};
my $book = $c->stash->{book};
if ( $form->submitted_and_valid ) {
# update dbic row with submitted values from form
$form->model->update( $book );
$c->response->redirect( $c->uri_for('view', $book->id) );
return;
}
elsif ( !$form->submitted ) {
# use dbic row to set form's default values
$form->model->default_values( $book );
}
return;
}
SETUP
For the form object to be able to access your DBIx::Class schema, it
needs to be placed on the form stash, with the name "schema".
This is easy if you're using Catalyst-Controller-HTML-FormFu, as you can
set this up to happen in your Catalyst app's config file.
For example, if your model is named "MyApp::Model::Corp", you would set
this (in Config::General format):
schema Corp
Or if your app's config file is in YAML format:
'Controller::HTML::FormFu':
model_stash:
schema: Corp
METHODS
default_values
Arguments: $dbic_row, [\%config]
Return Value: $form
$form->model->default_values( $dbic_row );
Set a form's default values from the database, to allow a user to edit
them.
update
Arguments: [$dbic_row], [\%config]
Return Value: $dbic_row
$form->model->update( $dbic_row );
Update the database with the submitted form values.
create
Arguments: [\%config]
Return Value: $dbic_row
my $dbic_row = $form->model->create( {resultset => 'Book'} );
Like "update", but doesn't require a $dbic_row argument.
You need to ensure the DBIC schema is available on the form stash - see
"SYNOPSIS" for an example config.
The "resultset" must be set either in the method arguments, or the form
or block's "model_config".
An example of setting the ResultSet name on a Form:
---
model_config:
resultset: FooTable
elements:
# [snip]
options_from_model
Populates a multi-valued field with values from the database.
This method should not be called directly, but is called for you during
"$form->process" by fields that inherit from
HTML::FormFu::Element::_Group. This includes:
HTML::FormFu::Element::Select
HTML::FormFu::Element::Checkboxgroup
HTML::FormFu::Element::Radiogroup
HTML::FormFu::Element::ComboBox
To use you must set the appropriate "resultset" on the element
"model_config":
element:
- type: Select
name: foo
model_config:
resultset: TableClass
BUILDING FORMS
single table
To edit the values in a row with no related rows, the field names simply
have to correspond to the database column names.
For the following DBIx::Class schema:
package MySchema::Book;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("book");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
id => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
author => { data_type => "TEXT" },
blurb => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
1;
A suitable form for this might be:
elements:
- type: Text
name: title
- type: Text
name: author
- type: Textarea
name: blurb
might_have and has_one relationships
Set field values from a related row with a "might_have" or "has_one"
relationship by placing the fields within a Block (or any element that
inherits from Block, such as Fieldset) with its "nested_name" in
HTML::FormFu set to the relationship name.
For the following DBIx::Class schemas:
package MySchema::Book;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("book");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
id => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
__PACKAGE__->might_have( review => 'MySchema::Review', 'book' );
1;
package MySchema::Review;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("review");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
id => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
book => { data_type => "INTEGER", is_nullable => 1 },
review_text => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("book");
__PACKAGE__->belongs_to( book => 'MySchema::Book' );
1;
A suitable form for this would be:
elements:
- type: Text
name: title
- type: Block
nested_name: review
elements:
- type: Textarea
name: review_text
For "might_have" and "has_one" relationships, you generally shouldn't
need to have a field for the related table's primary key, as DBIx::Class
will handle retrieving the correct row automatically.
You can also set a "has_one" or "might_have" relationship using a multi
value field like Select.
elements:
- type: Text
name: title
- type: Select
nested: review
model_config:
resultset: Review
This will load all reviews into the select field. If you select a review
from that list, a current relationship to a review is removed and the
new one is added. This requires that the primary key of the "Review"
table and the foreign key do not match.
has_many and many_to_many relationships
The general principle is the same as for "might_have" and "has_one"
above, except you should use a Repeatable element instead of a Block,
and it needs to contain a Hidden field corresponding to the foreign key.
The Repeatable block's nested_name must be set to the name of the
relationship.
The Repeable block's increment_field_names must be true (which is the
default value).
The Repeable block's counter_name must be set to the name of a Hidden
field, which is placed outside of the Repeatable block. This field is
used to store a count of the number of repetitions of the Repeatable
block were created. When the form is submitted, this value is used
during "$form->process" to ensure the form is rebuilt with the correct
number of repetitions.
For the following DBIx::Class schemas:
package MySchema::Book;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("book");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
id => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
__PACKAGE__->has_many( review => 'MySchema::Review', 'book' );
1;
package MySchema::Review;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("review");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
book => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
review_text => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("book");
__PACKAGE__->belongs_to( book => 'MySchema::Book' );
1;
A suitable form for this would be:
elements:
- type: Text
name: title
- type: Hidden
name: review_count
- type: Repeatable
nested_name: review
counter_name: review_count
elements:
- type: Hidden
name: book
- type: Textarea
name: review_text
many_to_many selection
To select / deselect rows from a "many_to_many" relationship, you must
use a multi-valued element, such as a Checkboxgroup or a Select with
multiple set.
The field's name must be set to the name of the "many_to_many"
relationship.
default_column
If you want to search / associate the related table by a column other
it's primary key, set "$field->model_config->{default_column}".
---
element:
- type: Checkboxgroup
name: authors
model_config:
default_column: foo
link_values
If you want to set columns on the link table you can do so if you add a
"link_values" attribute to "model_config":
---
element:
- type: Checkboxgroup
name: authors
model_config:
link_values:
foo: bar
additive
The default implementation will first remove all related objects and set
the new ones (see
). If you want to add the selected objects to the current set of
objects set "additive" in the "model_config".
---
element:
- type: Checkboxgroup
name: authors
model_config:
additive: 1
options_from_model: 0
"options_from_model" is set to 0 because it will try to fetch all
objects from the result class "Authors" if "model_config" is specified
without a "resultset" attribute.)
COMMON ARGUMENTS
The following items are supported in the optional "config" hash-ref
argument to the methods default_values, update and create.
base
If you want the method to process a particular Block element, rather
than the whole form, you can pass the element as a "base" argument.
$form->default_values(
$row,
{
base => $formfu_element,
},
);
nested_base
If you want the method to process a particular Block element by
name, you can pass the name as an argument.
$form->default_values(
$row,
{
nested_base => 'foo',
}'
);
CONFIGURATION
Config options for fields
The following items are supported as "model_config" options on form
fields.
accessor
If set, "accessor" will be used as a method-name accessor on the
"DBIx::Class" row object, instead of using the field name.
ignore_if_empty
If the submitted value is blank, no attempt will be made to save it
to the database.
null_if_empty
If the submitted value is blank, save it as NULL to the database.
Normally an empty string is saved as NULL when its corresponding
field is numeric, and as an empty string when its corresponding
field is a text field. This option is useful for changing the
default behavior for text fields.
delete_if_empty
Useful for editing a "might_have" related row containing only one
field.
If the submitted value is blank, the related row is deleted.
For the following DBIx::Class schemas:
package MySchema::Book;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("book");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
id => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
title => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("id");
__PACKAGE__->might_have( review => 'MySchema::Review', 'book' );
1;
package MySchema::Review;
use base 'DBIx::Class';
__PACKAGE__->load_components(qw/ Core /);
__PACKAGE__->table("review");
__PACKAGE__->add_columns(
book => { data_type => "INTEGER" },
review_text => { data_type => "TEXT" },
);
__PACKAGE__->set_primary_key("book");
__PACKAGE__->belongs_to( book => 'MySchema::Book' );
1;
A suitable form for this would be:
elements:
- type: Text
name: title
- type: Block
nested_name: review
elements:
- type: Text
name: review_text
model_config:
delete_if_empty: 1
label
To use a column value for a form field's label.
Config options for fields within a Repeatable block
delete_if_true
Intended for use on a Checkbox field.
If the checkbox is checked, the following occurs: for a has-many
relationship, the related row is deleted; for a many-to-many
relationship, the relationship link is removed.
An example of use might be:
elements:
- type: Text
name: title
- type: Hidden
name: review_count
- type: Repeatable
nested_name: review
counter_name: review_count
elements:
- type: Hidden
name: book
- type: Textarea
name: review_text
- type: Checkbox
name: delete_review
label: 'Delete Review?'
model_config:
delete_if_true: 1
Note: make sure the name of this field does not clash with one of
your DBIx::Class::Row method names (e.g. "delete") - see "CAVEATS".
Config options for Repeatable blocks
empty_rows
For a Repeatable block corresponding to a has-many or many-to-many
relationship, to allow the user to insert new rows, set "empty_rows"
to the number of extra repetitions you wish added to the end of the
Repeatable block.
new_rows_max
Set to the maximum number of new rows that a Repeatable block is
allowed to add.
If not set, it will fallback to the value of "empty_rows".
Config options for options_from_model
The column used for the element values is set with the "model_config"
value "id_column" - or if not set, the table's primary column is used.
element:
- type: Select
name: foo
model_config:
resultset: TableClass
id_column: pk_col
The column used for the element labels is set with the "model_config"
value "label_column" - or if not set, the first text/varchar column
found in the table is used - or if one is not found, the "id_column" is
used instead.
element:
- type: Select
name: foo
model_config:
resultset: TableClass
label_column: label_col
To pass the database label values via the form's localization object,
set "localize_label"
element:
- type: Select
name: foo
model_config:
localize_label: 1
You can set a "condition", which will be passed as the 1st argument to
"search" in DBIx::Class::ResultSet.
element:
- type: Select
name: foo
model_config:
resultset: TableClass
condition:
type: is_foo
You can set a "condition_from_stash", which will be passed as the 1st
argument to "search" in DBIx::Class::ResultSet.
"key" is the column-name to be passed to search, and "stash_key" is the
name of a key on the form stash from which the value to be passed to
search is found.
element:
- type: Select
name: foo
model_config:
resultset: TableClass
condition_from_stash:
key: stash_key
Is comparable to:
$form->element({
type => 'Select',
name => 'foo',
model_config => {
resultset => 'TableClass',
condition => {
key => $form->stash->{stash_key}
}
}
})
You can set "attributes", which will be passed as the 2nd argument to
"search" in DBIx::Class::ResultSet.
FAQ
Add extra values not in the form
To update values to the database which weren't submitted to the form,
you can first add them to the form with add_valid.
my $passwd = generate_passwd();
$form->add_valid( passwd => $passwd );
$form->model->update( $row );
"add_valid" works for fieldnames that don't exist in the form.
Set a field read only
You can make a field read only. The value of such fields cannot be
changed by the user even if they submit a value for it.
$field->model_config->{read_only} = 1;
- Name: field
model_config:
read_only: 1
See HTML::FormFu::Element::Label.
CAVEATS
To ensure your column's inflators and deflators are called, we have to
get / set values using their named methods, and not with "get_column" /
"set_column".
Because of this, beware of having column names which clash with
DBIx::Class built-in method-names, such as "delete". - It will have
obviously undesirable results!
REMOVED METHODS
new_empty_row
See "empty_rows" in "Config options for Repeatable blocks" instead.
new_empty_row_multi
See "new_rows_max" in "Config options for Repeatable blocks" instead.
Range constraint
See "empty_rows" in "Config options for Repeatable blocks" instead.
SUPPORT
Project Page:
Mailing list:
Mailing list archives:
BUGS
Please submit bugs / feature requests to
(preferred) or
.
GITHUB REPOSITORY
This module's sourcecode is maintained in a git repository at
The project page is
SEE ALSO
HTML::FormFu, DBIx::Class, Catalyst::Controller::HTML::FormFu
AUTHOR
Carl Franks
CONTRIBUTORS
Based on the code of "DBIx::Class::HTML::FormFu", which was contributed
to by:
Adam Herzog
Daisuke Maki
Mario Minati
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
Copyright (C) 2007 by Carl Franks
Based on the original source code of DBIx::Class::HTMLWidget, copyright
Thomas Klausner.
This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself, either Perl version 5.8.8 or, at
your option, any later version of Perl 5 you may have available.